Suzanne Virdee
{{Short description|British journalist and television presenter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
|name=Suzanne Virdee
|image=Suzanne Virdee -Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England-30August2008 cropped.jpg
|caption=In 2008
|birth_name=Suzanne Nicole Virdee
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1969|10|16|df=y}}
|birth_place=Solihull, Warwickshire, England
|nationality=British
|occupation=Broadcaster, journalist, newsreader
|years_active=1987–present
|| employer = ITN (2016–present)
|spouse=Andrew Fox
}}
Suzanne Nicole Virdee (born 16 October 1969 in Solihull, Warwickshire, now the West Midlands) is a British journalist and television presenter, working on a freelance basis with UK news organisation ITN.
Early life
Virdee was born on 16 October 1969 in Solihull, Warwickshire, now the West Midlands, to an Indian father and an English mother and grew up in Edgbaston.{{Cite web |title=The Week: Sunshine Suzanne is still smiling. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Week:+Sunshine+Suzanne+is+still+smiling.-a0138256397 |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}}{{Cite web |title=Suzanne Virdee, A Girl's Guide To Being Awesome! |url=https://birmingham.livingmag.co.uk/suzanne-virdee/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=birmingham.livingmag.co.uk}}{{Cite web |last=Officer |first=Communications |title=To Our New Women's Empowerment Ambassador: Suzanne Virdee – RES |url=https://rightsandequalitysandwell.co.uk/news/to-our-new-womens-empowerment-ambassador-suzanne-virdee/ |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en-US}} She was educated at Edgbaston's Park Grove School and studied at Mander Portman Woodward College.{{Cite web |last1=Young |first1=Graham |last2=Updated |date=2005-10-12 |title=Newsreader offered top London role |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/newsreader-offered-top-london-role-14200 |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=BirminghamLive |language=en}}
Career
Virdee became a journalist at the age of 18, working as a trainee reporter at the Solihull Times in her home town. She passed her journalism exams and switched to television journalism, working for Central News in Birmingham. Virdee went on to work for the Sunday Mercury and the Birmingham Mail (then the Birmingham Evening Mail) before a 16-month stint with BBC Radio WM.
She returned to Central News as a reporter, presenter and producer before joining the BBC's Midlands Today programme in April 2001, presenting late night bulletins before becoming a main presenter a year later, alongside Nick Owen. Virdee has also worked as a relief presenter for BBC Breakfast.
On 29 March 2012, Virdee left Midlands Today after announcing she was unable to sign a five-month contract to continue presenting the programme.[https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2012/03/29/suzanne-virdee-quits-midlands%E2%80%88today-in-contract-row/ Suzanne Virdee quits Midlands Today in contract row] Express & Star, 29 March 2012 The BBC took Virdee off air two days earlier than planned after she released a press statement about her departure.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17546555 Suzanne Virdee leaves BBC Midlands Today], BBC News, 29 March 2012
In August 2016, she joined ITN as a news correspondent for the ITV Lunchtime News and early newsreader for ITV News London. On 25 May 2017 she made her debut fronting short updates for 5 News and covered bulletins for ITV news.
Personal life
Virdee is married to photographer Andrew Fox. She lives in Redditch, Worcestershire.{{Cite web |last1=Bains |first1=Sanjeeta |last2=Updated |date=2016-01-15 |title=Suzanne Virdee's fabulous places in Birmingham |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/suzanne-virdees-fabulous-places-birmingham-11383613 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=BirminghamLive |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|id=8358601|name=Suzanne Virdee}}
- [http://westmidlands.ideasfactory.com/careers/features/feature32.htm Interview with Suzanne Virdee on Channel 4's IdeasFactory]
- {{Twitter}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Virdee, Suzanne}}
Category:British television presenters
Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists
Category:ITN newsreaders and journalists
Category:ITV regional newsreaders and journalists
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